Soldaat met bijl 1832 - 1902

This is Karel Frederik Bombled's "Soldaat met bijl," made using the etching process sometime in the 19th century. Etching involves drawing with a sharp needle on a wax-coated metal plate, which is then bathed in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating an image that can be inked and printed. Look closely, and you can see the characteristics of this process: the fineness of the lines, the way they create tone through density, and the slightly irregular quality, all a result of the artist’s hand and the corrosive action of the acid. The composition is sparse and sketched; the figure is roughly centered, and the subtle shading suggests depth and form. The choice of etching—a relatively accessible and reproducible medium—suits the subject, a common soldier. Bombled’s embrace of etching, with its inherent qualities of line and texture, reflects a broader interest in the materiality of artmaking. By valuing process and the skilled hand, we can better understand how art reflects and shapes society.